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United Arab Emirates

April 4, 2025

Abu Dhabi 5:50 pm

40°C

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 02: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a “Make America Wealthy Again” trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Touting the event as “Liberation Day”, Trump announced additional tariffs targeting goods imported to the U.S. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

How Trump's latest tariffs impact the Middle East

Gulf countries were relatively spared, with the US imposing only a 10% tariff, whereas other Middle Eastern nations are facing steeper trade penalties.

US President Donald Trump walks toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, on March 28, 2025, in Washington.

After major arms sales, Trump to visit Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar: What to know

The president is urging Gulf countries to increase their investment in the US after a series of bilateral economic and defense deals in recent months.

A mockup of Iran-made Mohajer-10 drone is on exhibition during a rally that marks the 46th anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran, on February 10, 2025. (Photo by Hossein Beris / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by HOSSEIN BERIS/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

US sanctions UAE, China firms in crackdown on Iranian drone supplies

The Justice Department also announced criminal charges against two Iranian nationals and an Iranian company over their alleged roles in the drone-procurement network.

A protestor waves a Turkish flag in front of riot police during a rally in support of Istanbul's arrested mayor in Istanbul, March 24, 2025.

Analysis

Turkey turmoil tests Gulf investors as crackdown fuels market unease

Improved relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had raised Ankara's hopes for a dealmaking boom, but the arrest of Istanbul's mayor could jeopardize it.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Latest News

UAE, Qatar investments fuel Jared Kushner's firm assets to $4.8 billion

Jared Kushner, founder and CEO of Affinity Partners, and Steve Witkoff, US Middle East envoy, during a panel discussion at the FII Priority summit, Miami Beach, Feb. 20, 2025.

United Arab Emirates

Gulf markets dip after Trump announces 25% automotive tariffs

US President Donald Trump announces tariffs on auto imports in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on March 26, 2025.

Exclusive

'Cloud First' policies give Saudi Arabia, UAE edge in AI race: Amazon exec

Yasser Hassan

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

How UAE AI firm's past China links stalled this US chipmaker's IPO

chip

United Arab Emirates

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Jennifer Gnana

Gulf Correspondent

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C/L) welcomes the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Italy's Meloni secures $40B in UAE investments during MBZ visit: What to know

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has secured a total of $50 billion worth of deals from her engagements with the UAE and Saudi Arabia so far this year.

United Arab Emirates

An oil tanker unloads imported crude oil at Qingdao port in China's eastern Shandong province on May 9, 2022. - China OUT (Photo by AFP) / China OUT (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

US sanctions on Iran’s 'shadow' oil fleet target brokers in UAE, China

The latest sanctions come after President Donald Trump pledged his administration would drive Iran's oil sales down to zero.

A view of the exhibition “Between Sunrise and Sunset: Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim,” at the Maraya Art Center.

AL-Monitor Dubai: Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim at Maraya Art Center

This week we spotlight an exhibition at Maraya Art Center in Sharjah featuring the work of prominent Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, who exhibited his work at the 59th International Venice Biennale in 2022.

United Arab Emirates

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) walks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as they meet at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, on Feb. 19, 2025.

UAE conveys frustrations to US' top diplomat Rubio over Gaza, Ukraine

Arab states have grown increasingly frustrated over the US administration's rhetoric about displacing 2.1 million Gazans from the enclave.

United Arab Emirates

Visitors check weapons during the International Defence Exhibition Idex 2025, on February 17, 2025, in Abu Dhai. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

China's defense companies out in full force at UAE's IDEX: What to know

China sent 59 defense and technology companies to the International Defense Exhibition and Conference and the Naval Defense and Maritime Security Exhibition in Abu Dhabi this week.

United Arab Emirates

Zelenskyy

UAE, Ukraine finalize trade deal during Zelenskyy's visit

The agreement is expected to contribute $369 million to the UAE’s GDP and $874 million to Ukraine’s GDP by 2031.

United Arab Emirates

Emiratis walk past a French Rafale fighter jet displayed during the Dubai Airshow on November 14, 2017, in the United Arab Emirates. / AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

France's burgeoning Gulf military influence: Rafale jets, naval systems and integration

France has emerged as the second-largest global arms exporter, surpassing Russia and solidifying its position as the leading European arms supplier to the Middle East.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

In this aerial image from a drone, tug boats tow the semi-submersible drilling platform Noble Danny Adkins through the Port Aransas Channel into the Gulf of Mexico on Dec. 12, 2020 in Port Aransas, Texas.

UAE's ADNOC eyes US acquisitions amid Trump's energy boom

Close political ties between the UAE and the Trump administration are likely to bode well for Abu Dhabi-based firms looking to tap the American shale boom.

United Arab Emirates

Workers unload aid from an aircraft upon it's arrival from the United Arab Emirates at the Port Sudan airport, on May 5, 2023. - Air strikes and gunfire rocked the Sudanese capital on May 5 as fighting showed no signs of abating, despite the threat of renewed US sanctions and warnings of a "protracted" conflict. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE pledges $200M in aid to Sudan as it calls for Ramadan ceasefire

At a conference in Ethiopia, the UAE's minister of state for international cooperation called on the warring parties in Sudan to agree to a Ramadan "humanitarian pause" that will be followed by a political process.

An installation view of “Evil Is Banal,” an exhibition of works by Nour Malas, at Carbon 12.

AL-Monitor Dubai: Syrian Canadian artist Nour Malas at Carbon 12

This week we showcase exhibitions in Dubai featuring paintings by the Syrian Canadian artist Nour Malas, at Carbon 12, and works by the Nigerian British artist Sola Olulode, at Lawrie Shabibi.

United Arab Emirates

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, accompanied by his son, X Musk, speaks to the press as President Donald Trump looks on in the Oval Office at the White House, Washington, DC, Feb. 11, 2025.

Elon Musk's Boring Co. to build Dubai Loop network of tunnels

The loop is a network of underground tunnels, similar to one being developed in Las Vegas, that allows passengers to be transported nonstop, in electric vehicles, to 11 stations.

United Arab Emirates

Shaibani

At Dubai summit, Syrian FM expresses interest in Baghdad visit

On his second trip to the United Arab Emirates since assuming his role, new Syria Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stressed the need for good neighborly relations, lifting of sanctions and guaranteed rights for minorities in the country.